Items of art ephemera, such as announcement cards, posters, press releases, gallery catalogues, low-price multiples, and other art-related items designed primarily for short term use, can tell fascinating stories. This Gallery 98 newsletter features six items that were selected simply because we find them interesting. What you see here is just the tip of the iceberg. Your taste might be different. Discover more on Gallery 98.
André Balazs, the owner of the Standard and other hotels favored by the art world, creates a limited edition work for the Arkitip series, 2009
André Balazs, Surface Mat featuring an image of The Standard Hotel by illustrator Andrew Holder and 112-Page publication for Arkitip No. 0050, Limited Edition 738/1500, 2009. Size: 10 x 7.5 inches — Available for Purchase
André Balazs, the famous hotelier who owns the Standard (NYC), Chateau Marmont (L.A.) and other hotels favored by the art world, is the creator of this limited-edition work published by Arkitip. Each Arkitip publication features a book and an original related art work. Here Balazs skirts the line between advertising and art by creating a mat with an illustration of the Standard, and a picture-book of his hotels.
A signed photograph by the controversial No Wave singer and poet Lydia Lunch, 1999
Below: Signature and dedication on back of photograph
Lydia Lunch, SIGNED photograph, 1999. Size: 14 x 11 inches — Available for Purchase
This sensuous photo of a classical nude statue with a large smudge of dirt on her thigh is by Lydia Lunch, the No Wave singer, poet and actress known for her confrontational style and ability to create beauty out of pain. The multitalented Lunch has taken photos for years but rarely exhibits them. This photograph was originally given to a friend as a birthday present.
“Blond Night” at the Mudd Club with a lock of hair attached to the invitation, c. 1980
Front and back. Blond Night, Mudd Club, party organized by Tina L’Hotsky, card with lock of blonde hair attached, c. 1980. Size: 6 x 3.5 inches — Available for Purchase
In recent years, the nightclub AREA has been given credit for many of the innovations first introduced slightly earlier by the Mudd Club. This invitation illustrates two of these innovations: theme nights and cleverly designed invitations that incorporate actual objects. Is this lock of blond hair from Tina L’hotsky, the “Queen of the Mudd Club” who organized this event?
Buy low priced art from a vending machine installed at the Tunnel nightclub, 1987
Front and back. Objets Vend’art: Coin-Operated Art Vending Machine, designed and curated by Ona Lindquist, Tunnel, card, 1987. Size: 5.5 x 8.5 inches — Available for Purchase
In 1985, artist Ona Lindguerst began using vending machines to sell low-price art by herself and others. This card announces the placement of one of her “Vend’art” machines at the nightclub Tunnel. Others were located in movie houses in different cities, and Lindquist boasted that over 30,000 works of art were sold over a four-year period.
High speed with synchronized strobe, stop action photography available for advertising, 1988
Front and back. Globus Photo Studios, Shoot Your Product, Card, 1988. Size: 8.5 x 5.5 inches — Available for Purchase
The Globus Brothers specialized in bringing high-tech photography to the world of commercial advertising. Here they suggest using high speed, stop-action photographs, like those created by Harold Edgerton, as a way to promote products. The picture on the card shows a bullet at the moment it pierces a computer disc.
Expressionistic “word art” spray painted on canvas by Dan Colen, 2006
No Sex No War No Me, group exhibition with Dan Colen (image), Terence Koh, and others, Peres Projects, card, 2006. Size: 6 x 4 inches — Available for Purchase
Article from Artnet, October 5, 2025 concerning Holy Shit, a work similar to Dan Colen’s No Sex No War No Me. This work is deliberately intended to be displayed upside down.
This text-based work by Dan Colen was the cover image for an invitation card promoting a 2006 group exhibition. We don’t know if No Sex No War No Me actually sold, or at what price, but a recent article in Artnet notes how Holy Shit, a similar work by Colen, has lost an astounding 96% of its value. After selling for $341,000 in a 2013 auction, Holy Shit sold for $12,700 last September.
Is this a work by Francesco Clemente?
Attributed to Francesco Clemente, photostat of drawing found in a folder of Clemente items formerly owned by art critic Edit DeAk, 1980s. Size: 7 x 5 inches — Available for Purchase
Francesco Clemente often paints heads with faces emerging from the mouth, eyes and other orifices. Here a head peaks out from a man’s zipper. Is it a drawing by Clemente? Our guess is that it is, since it was found in a folder of Clemente items that Gallery 98 obtained from the estate of the art writer Edit deAk.
